UMRAH: IMPORTANT MASAA’IL

The meaning of “Umrah” is “to visit.” The accomplishment of Umrah at least once in a lifetime is Sunnat-e-Mu’akkadah. The Umrah performed during the auspicious month of Ramadaan supercedes that Umrah completed in other days. Bukhari Shareef states that Umrah in Ramadaan is equal to Hajj.

THE MASAA’ILS OF UMRAH CAN BE BRIEFLY SUMMARISED AS

The wearing of Ihraam before entering the Miqat boundary
The performance of two Rakaahs Sunnatul Ihraam
The recitation of Niyyah and Talbiyah
The advancement towards Makkatul Mukarramah while constantly reading the Talbiyah
The performance of Tawaaf with Idh’tibaa and Ramal
The performance of two Rakaah Waajib Salaah after Tawaaf behind Maqaam-e-Ebrahim
Advancement to the Multazam to make Du’a and drink water from the Zam Zam well
Performance of Sa’ee between Saffa and Marwa
Shaving or trimming the hair of the head.

SEQUENCE OF PERFORMING UMRAH

Adoption of Ihraam and performance of two Rakaah with Niyyah of Umrah
Tawaaf
Du’a at Multazam
Performance of two Rakaah Salaah at Maqaam-e-Ebrahim
Drinking Zam Zam water
Performing Sa’ee between Saffa and Marwa
Two Rakaah Salaah
Shaving/Trimming of the hair.

Tayyammum

“Tayyammum” or “Dry Ablution” can be done in place of Wudu or Ghusal.

Conditions for Tayyammum

Tayyammum can only be made under the following conditions:

1. If there is no water after making a search for water within a two and a half kilometre (2.5 km) area.
2. If a person is very sick and fears that the use of water will cause more illness or harm to the person.
3. If a person is becoming late for Janazah Salaah or Eid Salaah.
4. If a person fears being attacked by snakes or animals if he or she goes for water.
5. When water is very scarce and only sufficient for drinking purposes.

How to Make Tayyammum

STEP 1: Make the Niyyah (Intention) for Tayyammum:
STEP 2: Strike both hands on the earth, sand or dust or any object having dust on it. Then, dust the hands clean or blow the extra dust off the hands and wipe the entire face (as done in Wudu) without leaving out any part of the face.
STEP 3: Strike both hands again on the ground, dust clean and wipe the right arm up to the elbow with the left hand and left arm with the right hand. Make Khilal of the fingers. If one is wearing a ring or bangle, it is necessary to remove it or shift it. If one has a beard, it is Sunnah to also make Khilal of the beard (run fingers through the beard).

The Fard (Faraa’id) & Sunnahs of Tayyammum

The Fard (Faraa’id) of Tayyammum

The Faraa’id of Tayyammum are:

1. To make the Niyyah (intention) for Tayyammum.
2. Striking both palms on the earth or dust and wiping them over the face.
3. Striking both palms on the earth or dust and wiping them over the arms till the elbows.

The Sunnahs of Tayyammum

The Sunnahs of Tayyammum are:

1. To begin with the “Bismillah.”
2. To start with the right hand.
3. To make Khilal of the beard.
4. To make Khilal of the fingers.
5. To make Tayyammum in the proper sequence.

Objects on which Tayyammum can be Performed & cannot be Performed

Objects on which Tayyammum can be Performed

1. Earth (clean soil)
2. Sand
3. Stone
4. Lime
5. Baked earthen pots which are unglazed.
6. Walls of mud, stone or brick.
7. Clay
8. Things that do not melt or burn to ashes.

Objects on which Tayyammum cannot be Performed

1. Wood
2. Metals
3. Glass
4. Food
5. Items which burns to ash or which rots and melts.

Actions which break Tayyammum

1. The same actions which break the Wudu or Ghusal.
2. The finding of water.
3. After one is fit.
4. If there is no more danger from snakes or animals.

Method of making Wudu

Wudu (Ablution) is the key to Salaah and it is essential that we perform Wudu first before we begin Salaah. These are the steps to take when making Wudu:

Method of making Wudu

First, make the Niyyah (Intention) for Wudu:

a: Wash both the hands up to the wrist 3 times making sure that water has reached between the fingers.
b: Next, put a handful of water into the mouth and rinse it thoroughly 3 times.
c: After this, sniff water into the nostrils 3 times to clean them and then wash the tip of the nose 3 times.
d: Wash the face 3 times from right ear and from the forehead to the throat.
e: Wash the right arm and then the left arm thoroughly from the wrist to the elbow 3 times.
f: Then move the palm of the wet hand over the head, starting from the top of the forehead to the back and pass both hands over the back of the head to the neck.
g: Next, rub wet fingers into the grooves of both ears and holes and also pass the wet thumbs behind the ears.
h: Next pass the back of wet hands over the nape.
i: Finally, wash both feet to the ankles starting from the right and making sure that water has reached between the toes and all other parts of the feet.

The Fards (Faraa’id) of Wudu

There are 4 Fard in Wudu which we must strictly follow. These 4 Fards are:

1. To wash the face – which is from the forehead till the chin and from one ear to the other ear once.
2. To wash both the arms till the elbows once.
3. To make Masah of at least a quarter of the head. By quarter is meant 4 fingers width.
4. To wash the feet till the ankles once.
5. If these 4 actions are not carried out, then the Wudu will be incomplete. It will, therefore, be Haraam for a person to read Salaah.

The Sunnahs of Wudu

There are also some Sunnahs of the Wudu, which if you perform will earn you immense Thawaab. These Sunnahs are:

1. To make the intention of Wudu before you begin.
2. To say “Bismillah” before you begin.
3. To wash the hands up to the wrist 3 times.
4. To gargle the mouth.
5. To wash the nostril.
6. To use Miswaak to clean the teeth. “Miswaak” is a special tooth-brush made from the roots of certain trees.
7. To make Wudu in the correct sequence.
8. To wash all parts immediately one after the other.
9. To wash all parts 3 times.
10. To make Masah of the ears.
11. To make Masah of the whole head.
12. To make “Khilal” of the beard (pass wet fingers through the beard).
13. To make Khilal of the fingers and toes (pass wet fingers in between the toes and fingers).